Type size gauge



Oct. 15, 1963 TYPE SIZE GAUGE Filed May 2. 1961 FIG|- FIGZ /T-BY fm@ www J. l.. s'roNEHAM, .JR 3,106,778

3,106,778 TYPE SIZE GAUGE .lohn L. Stoneham, Jr., Queens Village, N.Y. (i011 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park, Long Island, NX.) Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,100 1 Claim. (Cl. 33-1) This invention relates to means to measure and classify printed type faces and more particularly to means for identifying the sizes of the various types of faces or processes.

When a printer is asked to print a piece of work from a sample orV according to customers specifications it is iirst necessary for him to identify the type, size and style.

In View of the many different sizes, styles and processes `of type, even the most experienced printer cannot rely on his own eye but must compare the sample with reference books setting for-th the different sizes and styles of type.

Even with the proper reference books at hand it is very diflicult to measure microscopic differences in size.

The most common :styles or processes of type are Foundry, Linotype, Intertype and Monotype. Sometimes one face is made by all four processes yand is called by a general name for all four. However, sometimes there are small differences in size vbetween these processes, that is, even though the bodies of the different styles may be the same dimensionvor point size, the raised impressions of the faces may be of slightly different size.

The present invention greatly simplifies this problem by providing a transparent sheet smaller than an ordinary book page upon which the dilierent size and style faces are printed in a conveniently classified form.

The transparent gauge -is laid over the work to be identified and very accurate identification may be made quite easily, even of microscopic differences in size. The printing on the gauge is preferably red or some color `other than black, so that as the gauge is moved relative the letter being examinedA any discrepancies in size and general shape will be readily apparent. The transparent gauge or sheet preferably has a transparent cover sheet placed over the printed surface and both of the transparent sheets should be of suiciently goed optical quality to prevent any optical distortion when measuring. lf desired an additional transparent cover sheet may lbe placed on the back of the gauge. These sheets `are preferably of a good grade of plastic having suflicient stiffness to withstand wear and tear.

A convenient index is provided for quickly identifying the name and/or size of the unknown type face. The index may take the form of an alphabetical listing on a card physically attached to the gauge or the index may be conveniently posted at the desk of the user.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for measuring type faces.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for measuring and identifying type faces.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for measuring and identifying type faces comprising a transparent gauge Ihaving conveniently classified selections of the commonly used type faces printed thereon, whereby the gauge may be laid over the unknown work Iand adjusted very accurately for perfect optical matching.

These and other objects of the invention will be ap parent from the following specification and drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 `is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention.

3A0-5,778 Patented Get. l5, 1963 FIG. 2 is a side view :of fthe embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3V is a plan view of index means for the ernbodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring to the figures the invention comprises a transparent sheet 1 having printed thereon a selection of the most commonly used type faces which are conveniently arranged and classified according to their name and size, for instance, each class of type is placed together and the available point sizes are listed in order. For instance, Scale No. l shows Altern-ate Gothic Style in six different point sizes running from Pt. 6 to Pt. y18. Scale No. 4 shows Bul-mer style in nine different points.

In certain cases, one face may be made in four `different processes, namely, Foundry, Linotype, Inter-type and Monotype, for instance, referring to Scale No. 16 in the Pt. 10 size, the Linotype indicated as L and Monotype indicated as M have the same size impression but the Foundry indicated as F and the Intertype indicated as I have a different size impression, even though all the bodies are Pt. l0. With this 'device it is relatively easy to avoid an expensive error in printing large quantities of material.

There lare arrangements made on the gauge of FIG. 1 for 34 different scales, some of Ithese scales being left blank for insertion of other styles if required. Additional sheets may 4be added if desired, to include more scales.

The transparent sheet 1 is preferably covered with a transparent cover sheet Z on the printed side to protect the printing fromy wear. If desired, a third. transparent sheet 3 may be added to the back of the sheet 1. All of these sheets may be of a good grade of transparent plastic having suliicient amount of stiffness to withstand ordinary wear and tear and being of sufiiciently clear optical quality for the purpose intended of matching Very accurately, for size measurements. The printing on the gauge is preferably in red for eye ease in matching against black letters which are the most commonly used. The lgauge is printed in transparent ink for ease in matching.

Suitable mounting holes 5 and 6 preferably are punched in the sheets for the purpose of either mounting on a wall or on a ring-type binder if more than one sheet is required by the number of type styles desired.

A suitable separate index is provided which may comprise a page or ysheet 7 having printed thereon an alpha.- betical listing of the dilierent styles displayed, indexed with their scale numbers, for instance, Scale No. 1 on FIG. l shows Alternate Gothic, Scale No. 4 shows Bulrner, Scale No. 8 shows Bodoni, etc. If desired, numerical indices may also be provided.

The index sheet 7 may be Ia plastic sheet but -need not be transparent and it preferably has mounting holes 8 and 9 so that it may be conveniently mounted on a wall or desk or mounted :on a ring binder together with the gauge 1.

Therefore, the present invention has the following Y panded, Scale 33, FIG. l, on Pt. 12, there is a difference -v in size between Foundry, Linotype, Intertype and Monotype. On the code it shows as 112L for the Linotype, l2I-M for lntertype and Monotype 12F for the Foun- Sometimes one face is made by all 3 dry. Where there is a variant such as I just explained this gauge shows it.

(3) It is also useful for those people who plan different advertisements as it shows the exact heights of type and therefore gives them the space the various faces will take.

(4) The prinie usefulness of the gauge is that it bridges the gap of long experience required in being able to know what size type various printed matter is.

(5) The novice 'and even the experienced printer will not trust his own sight or experience in `determining sizes of type without `consulting reference books and then comparing it for size. Before they can do this they have to know what process made the type, then they have to get the book if it is available at work, find the type face in which they are interested in the book, and then start to compare the printed matter and the book until they tind the size. This gauge bridges years of experience for the novice, eliminates all `the 4above consultation with books, eliminates the expense of the books, eliminates all the time involved and shows immediately the size. Also if there is a variant, it shows what process the type was made by and therefore allows them to duplicate.

(6) When printing is set in a printing shop, proofreaders not only have to read for typographical errors but they have to check ithe customers specification, such as layout, sizes of type used, etc. The proofreader will find this invention useful to check to see if the right size of type was used without consulting reference books, etc.

Many moditications may be made by those who desire l to practice the invention without departing from the scope thereof which is defined by the following claim.

I claim:

In a printers gauge means to identify printed type faces by style, size and process whether or not the type face terminates at the edge of the type body comprisa first sheet of transparent material,

a plurality of letters of different type faces and sizes printed on said sheet, letters of each different style being arranged in columns according to the available sizes and processes,

a transparent cover sheet affixed to said first sheet over said printing,

said sheets being of sufficiently pure optical quality to minimize optical distortion,

whereby said gauge niay be laid over printed material to be measured,

and an index of said different type faces, sizes, and processes adapted to be foldably and removably connected to said tirst sheet.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,423 Gyllenberg Dec. 18, 1928 1,736,445 Jaiinenga et al. Nov. 19, 1929 2,098,323 Wadsworth Nov. 9, 1937 2,376,811 Rigby May 22, 1945 2,720,028 Wolf Oct. 1l, 1955 2,876,119 Dithmar et al. Mar. 3, 1959 2,891,314 Haschek June 23, 1959 

